Photo courtesy PFL MMA
Bubba Jenkins dominates former champ, Lance Palmer, in PFL season debut
In the featherweight season opener, 2018 and 2019 tournament winner, Lance Palmer draws Bubba Jenkins. The two top-tier lightweights will clash for the first time as professional athletes at PFL 1 but this won’t be their first meeting in competition. When the world-class mixed martial artists were in college, Jenkins got the best of Palmer when they faced each other, a feat Jenkins thinks edges the previous champion, Palmer.
Here’s how the featherweight matchup between Bubba Jenkins and Lance Palmer went down in the season opener of PFL’s 2021 season, including round-by-round scoring. For full event results, check them out right here.
Round 1:
Jenkins starts this bout with a jab with Palmer firing back with a leg kick. Palmer keeps his distance with a sidekick while he assesses his foe. Palmer unloads a hard left hand keeping Jenkins at bay. Jenkins grins as he stalks Palmer. Palmer lands another left and Jenkins returns with his own hard right. Jenkins continues stalking Palmer, firing the head kick, which is narrowly blocked by Palmer. Palmer connects from the outside as Jenkins continues the pressure and switches levels for a takedown. Jenkins gets the bout to the ground and immediately gets to work. Jenkins peppers Palmer with punches while Palmer’s attempting to regain his base and get back to his feet. Jenkins isn’t making it easy, however, throwing hard knees to the legs of Palmer. Jenkins drags him back to the canvas and continues the peppering punches as he secures Palmer’s back. Jenkins throws his hooks in and wisely gauges when to throw punches to the side of Palmer’s head to close the round.
MyMMANews scores round 1 for Bubba Jenkins. 10-9
Round 2:
Palmer immediately starts firing upstairs and Jenkins meets him with fire, landing his own punches. Jenkins looks for another takedown, but Palmer can nullify this attempt. Jenkins continues to stalk Palmer throughout the round, with both fighters landing single shots as the round progresses. Jenkins is head hunting with his punches, transitioning to a takedown attempt from Jenkins. Palmer is pressed against the cage, with Jenkins again getting the best of the inside fighting. Jenkins is finding more success with his striking, stringing his punches and kicks together, keeping Palmer at bay as the round draws to a close
MyMMANews scores round 2 for Bubba Jenkins. 10-9
Round 3:
Leg kicks start this round from both fighters. Palmer finds success with a right hook followed by a straight left, two times in succession. Jenkins presses the action against the cage, once again. Jenkins has his weight pressed against Palmer as both fighters trade punches to the mid-section. Palmer lands an accidental low blow, dropping Jenkins to the canvas. The action resumes and Jenkins scoops Palmer in the air with a heavy dump to the mat, landing in side control. Palmer looks to secure a neck but Jenkins sees it and easily fends off to get back to his feet. The fighters trade respective hard shots down to the wire with Palmer looking to pull off a last-second KO. Too little too late as the final bell sounds and Jenkins immediately smiles and raises his arms in what he believes is a sure victory.
MyMMANews scores round 3 for Bubba Jenkins. 10-9
Official result: Bubba Jenkins defeats Lance Palmer via unanimous decision.
(30-27), (30-27), (30-27)
Bubba Jenkins secures 3 points in the PFL featherweight opening round.
